Daily editorial vocabulary · 27 October 2026
The Hindu editorial, 27 October 2026
What today's editorials said in short, then 10 hard words with the meaning they have in that sentence. Select any word on this page to see how ftak explains it.
A final surge: On Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s triumph in Brazil
Lula da Silva, 80, came second to Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round on October 4, and no Brazilian candidate had ever won the run-off from second place. He won it anyway, 51.7% to 48.2%. He moved his campaign onto the economy, promised more cash payouts and debt relief, and used WhatsApp to reach young voters. Flávio's pledge to free his jailed father worried voters outside the right. The editorial says Lula now has to work with a Congress the right controls.
Read the full editorial on The HinduDubious retreat: On the National Medical Commission and its MSMER
The National Medical Commission has withdrawn its 2023 MSMER rules, which let it fine faculty and administrators up to ₹5 lakh for submitting false information. The NMC says the rules overlapped with the rating board (MARB), which can still fine colleges up to ₹1 crore. The editorial argues that punishing only institutions is harder and removes the fear that keeps individuals honest. It also notes MARB has not published its assessments, and asks the NMC to explain the move.
Read the full editorial on The HinduVocabulary from the editorials
1.bucks (verb)
goes against a trend instead of following it
“…His victory bucks the recent trend in South America…”
Similar: defies, goes against
2.unleashed (verb)
started something with a lot of force and energy
“…Lula unleashed a social media campaign…”
Similar: launched, set loose
3.mobilise (verb)
to get a group of people organised and moving to act, here to go out and vote
“…a social media campaign to mobilise younger voters…”
Similar: rally, galvanise
4.consensus (noun)
general agreement among a group, here among lawmakers of different parties
“…He should seek to build legislative consensus…”
Similar: agreement, accord
5.denotified (verb)
officially cancelled a rule by issuing a government notice
“…has denotified and withdrawn its 2023 Maintenance of Standards…”
Similar: rescinded, revoked
6.errant (adjective)
breaking the rules or behaving wrongly
“…the power to fine errant institutions up to ₹1 crore…”
Similar: wayward, delinquent
7.wholesale (adverb)
completely and all at once, instead of part by part
“…why the NMC scrapped MSMER wholesale is unclear…”
Similar: entirely, in full
8.perverse (adjective)
having the opposite effect of what was intended
“…risks creating a perverse incentive to accommodate rather than punish…”
Similar: counterproductive, contrary
9.mitigate (verb)
to make something less strong or serious, here the fear of being fined
“…could mitigate the fear that keeps administrators honest…”
Similar: lessen, reduce
10.lacunae (noun)
gaps or missing parts, plural of lacuna
“…satisfactory answers for all these lacunae…”
Similar: gaps, omissions
Reading the full editorial? Tap any word for its meaning in context.
ftak is a free Chrome extension: select a word on any page, including The Hindu, and get the meaning that fits the sentence, plus UPSC past questions.
Add to Chrome, it's free